New Zealand Freshwater Fish

DSC_1496 Feral goldfish (Carassius auratus) were first introduced to New Zealand in the 1860's, they are now widespread and well established. Wild populations lack the larger fins, protruding eyes and colouration of aquarium specimens, reverting to an olive-bronze to deep gold colour. Goldfish were known to Maori as morihana – a transliteration of the name 'Morrison' after the man who introduced goldfish into the Taupo area. For some time morihana were a food for Rotorua Maori *